The Bartender Questions, Capitol Hill Edition

What would you be doing if you weren't bartending? Since I was a kid, I've been obsessed with film. I had every intention of going into the industry, then I started bartending, and it stuck.

Do you incorportate that into what you make? I put little bits of film into my cocktails. My favorite movie of all time is Cool Hand Luke, so I made a cucumber drink called Cool Hand Cuke. I also have a great drink on the menu right now called Terragon in Sixty Seconds. I have no problems with Angelina Jolie.

If you could share a drink with anyone, who would it be and why? Quentin Tarantino. He's a fast-talking film nerd who likes Chartreuse. He'd be a fun person to sit down and have a drink with.

What can you tell about a person by what they drink? You can tell a lot. During the happy-hour rush, we get a lot of young guys and ladies ordering the happy-hour wine or beer. You can tell they're just getting off from work on the Hill. As the night goes on, though, you see the senior-level people coming in. They're ordering the twenty-five-year-old bourbon.

What has bartending taught you about politics? It's taught me not to talk about politics. But certainly, I don't mind encouraging people at my bar to talk about politics — playfully stoke the fire. There's no real answer to it, so they'll just start talking, and they'll be there for a couple of hours. And I'll keep making 'em drinks.

Is drinking political in D.C.? Absolutely. There are plenty of bars where it's like, That is a Democratic bar. Don't go in there and start talking up your Republican stuff. It's almost like a gang thing. Not like they're gonna beat you up. But, you know. You'll see it down on the Hill. You could feel the Republican vibe in one bar, and the Democratic vibe in others.

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What drink is D.C. known for? The official cocktail of D.C. is the Rickey. It was created here. It's gin, lime juice, a bit of sugar, and soda water. It's very light and refreshing. In D.C. in the summertime, it's a hot slog outside. This cools you off.

What's a cocktail everyone should know how to make?Sazerac. It's a delicious, underutilized drink. And it's easy to make. Sazerac is my go-to if I go out to a craft cocktail bar.

What do you wish people didn't order? Mojitos. They're like the flu. If one person gets one, in ten minutes, everyone's got it.

What drinking trend do you disapprove of? There's a couple. Taking shots of rye — it's a new thing that's popping up here. Gin and ginger ale. That's a young person's drink. I'll make it and smile, and possibly, quietly judge them.

What do you have to keep behind the bar with you at all times? A pack of cigarettes. There comes a moment once you do that last call and before the cleaning starts. It's my escape, my little vacation.

What have you learned about people's moods, especially when they drink? People's moods definitely change as they drink, but you also have a lot of power as a bartender. Being behind the bar, you're a constant presence, and you can elevate people's mood in a lot of ways.

Why do people go to your bar? We do really great craft cocktails and have a lively bar scene. And we have an incredible patio — probably the largest in D.C. That's a huge draw. People love to drink outside. In the wintertime, we throw some heat lamps out there, pull the couch a little closer, and put a fire in front of people. Instead of mojitos, there's bacon-infused bourbon hot chocolate.

How did people at the bar react to Mitt Romney naming Paul Ryan as his VP? For someone who's lived in D.C. for so long, you'd think I have a real ear for politics. But it's like static on TV.

How many election seasons have you been around for? Is the mood different this season compared to past? I've been up here since '98. You can definitely sense a different vibe in the restaurant. During happy hour, our bar is just populated by staffers for the bigwigs. They're getting off of work, you hear what's going on in their day, and you get this crazy energy.

Judging by who gets the most talk at Poste, who do you think will be president? We get a really equal mix of conservative and liberal people. I think it's going to be pretty close. Everyone really seems to have no idea where this is going.

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